wells: month eleven

Our Wellsy turned eleven months a week ago - that means he only has one more month to go before he's a year. Wow!

He is so active. I swear, I keep saying that but his level of activity is just so intense and constant. It's to the point that we have to literally pin him down just to change his diaper. And that usually doesn't work out well for us.

snapshot

I retook Wells' official ten-month picture over the weekend.

Buster Brown at least stayed in one spot for more than a microsecond this time. It might have even been a full second.

This kid is B-U-S-Y. He hardly stays still for even a diaper change any more. Except when I shove a bottle in his mouth for the duration - that always works. He also sprouted his third tooth last Wednesday. It's coming in slowly but surely. Busy boy, so much growing being done.

Have a happy Thursday, everyone!

wells: month ten

On Sunday we celebrated ten months since Wells was born.

This month he:

1. Eats like a monster. He'll gobble down anything you put in front of him as quickly as you can set it down.

2. Won't sit still for his monthly photos. (I think we'll try again another day.)

wells: month nine

What a month it has been for Wells! Of course, if you read my last post, you already know that he is hitting milestones left and right: crawling, teeth, pulling up on things, saying "mama" and "dada" and making all sorts of other sweet vocalizations. He's changing so fast and it's so fun to watch.

Wells is nine months as of this week. When I think of the nine-month mark, it always feels to me like the start of the approach to his first birthday. Eight months still seems closer to the middle of a year than the end but now, at nine months, he only has so much baby time left.

This was the first photo I took of him today.

That pretty much some up life these days - this kid is on the move!

wells: month eight

What a month Wells' eighth month has been! It flew by so incredibly fast, partially due to the fact that we weren't at home for most of it making our daily rush just that much crazier.

He has been working towards crawling but isn't quite there yet.

wells: month seven

Wells is now seven months old, wow. We were away from home on his seven month birthday so I didn't get a chance to take his official monthly photo but I still snapped a few pictures to commemorate the day.

My baby boy is growing up so quickly. He hasn't hit any major milestones in the last month but he is becoming more agile and he's hinting at crawling soon. What an adventure it will be when we have two mobile children at home!

wells: month six

This week was Wells' half birthday.

He's getting so big and I just want to hold on to his baby-ness as long as possible. At night, when I go in to check on him before I go to bed, instead of quickly tiptoeing in and making sure not to disturb him, I've been picking him up and holding him tight for just a few seconds, just trying to soak him in while he's still a baby.

wells: month five

Since last month Wells has continued to charm us with his relatively easygoing personality.

He's been trying new foods: sweet potatoes, green beans, apple sauce, mango, prunes, strawberries and even a touch of peanut butter that one time.

wells: month four

Today Wells is four months old. Handsome as ever and growing by the day. 

He went to the doctor yesterday and was deemed big and strong.

Being big and strong at four months old means you get the green light to start trying solid foods so we kicked it off with sweet potato yesterday afternoon.

That was very exciting! We tried again today and he seemed equally pleased.

His four month birthday was made even more exciting with a surprise visit from Tia Emily, all the way from Seattle! (A surprise that deserves its own post. Stay tuned.)

We're having so much fun and are so excited to watch our boy keep changing and growing. We love you, Wellsy!

wells: month three

That handsome guy? That's Wells. Our three-month old. 3 months! How is that possible? I know, everyone is always saying that about babies but time really does fly when your babies are growing up. I've probably already said that too, blame it on mommy brain. The struggle is real.

The past month has been so fun. Wells is such a smiley, sweet boy these days. And he's strong, as you'll notice in the photo below.

Since I returned to work last week, Wells is now splitting his time between daycare and his grandma's house doing just fine. You'd hardly know that he wouldn't let me put him down for days straight just six weeks ago.

Likes: Lights. Sitting in the highchair. Talking to people and being talked to. Being sung to.

Dislikes: Being alone. 
Nicknames: Bud, Bear, Wellsy Bellsy, Guapo

Month 2 Milestones: 
Started daycare and grandma care.
Sleeps through the night like a rockstar.

Coos all day long.

Other Notables:
Wears size 0-3 month clothes.

Is a thumb sucker!

We think he looks just like Dad - it's the eyes.

We love you, Guapo.

wells: month two

Yesterday, Wells hit the two month mark. How is this kiddo already two months old? (I will think that every month for the rest of his life.) Since his last "birthday" he has grown so much. He is awake a lot more often now and he is just the cutest little thing when he's flailing around, taking in the world.

This month began with some sleep and comfort challenges that felt all-consuming at the time. It's hard to imagine that some moms are already back to work by now, I'm having a hard time believing we'll be ready for that in three weeks when I go back. Anyway, I am happy to report that Wells is sleeping much better and that means both Mom and Dad are feeling more like people and less like cranky zombies, which is very good for the entire family - thanks, Wells!

Without further ado, some highlights from the last month:

Likes: Staring at lights. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Being upright. Stroller rides. Car rides. Eating. Being in his Solly Baby Wrap.
Dislikes: Being put down (But this is getting better too!). His Mamaroo.
Nicknames: Buddy, Buddy Bear, Wellsy Bellsy, Wellsy

Month 2 Milestones: 
Smiles at us.
Went on his first vacation to Mackinac Island.
Slept 7 hours just last night - Hallelujah!

Other Notables:
Weighed 11 lbs. 12 oz. at his two-month checkup, up 4 lbs. from his birthweight.
Is discovering his hands. Three cheers for self-soothing, hip hip hooray!
Wears size 0-3 month clothes but still fits in a few newborn items.

wells: month one

Last week, Wells finished his first month here on Earth. In that time we've been getting used to life as a family of four and getting to know our sweet new little nugget. We've been able to introduce him to lots of family members and friends and even get out for a good numbers of outings. Even though we've been through this before, it's hard to believe how quickly Wells is growing and changing. Below are some highlights from his first month.

Likes: Being held (especially by Mom). Stroller rides. Sleeping. Eating.
Dislikes: Diaper changes.
Hates: Bathtime.
Nicknames: Buddy, Bud, Wellsy Bellsy, Bells, Nugget, Sugar/Sug, Little Monster

Month 1 Milestones: 
Cord fell out on day 5 (!).
Reached birthweight at about 6 days.
Met all aunts and uncles who came to visit from Seattle, Portland, and Denver.
Celebrated his first national holiday. (More on our Fourth of July celebrations later.)

Other Notables:
Startles easily.
Big sister likes to give him eskimo kisses before she goes to bed.
Has powerful lungs.

He was born with a strong neck, holding that head up so high!

We love you little guy!

eleven months

At eleven months, I am in disbelief that our daughter is close to a year-old already. I've found myself becoming emotional as I remember the day she was born -  the emotions that arrived with the culmination of forty weeks of anticipation, the love that overwhelmed us the minute she was born, the exhaustion after laboring for 20 hours, and the wonder at the little person whose parents we got to become.

Since day one, that wonder has not let up and it continues to fill our days as Elia's first birthday draws near.

Her personality is starting to form and we are so thankful for a happy, content, curious daughter. She is independent at times, refusing help when she eats and playing on her own.

To my delight, her newborn love for snuggling seems to have returned.

She loves to explore her world, which we couldn't be happier about.

Eleven months is pretty remarkable so far.

Todd and I recently realized that we're no longer new parents. I've recently realized that I can no longer say that I just had a baby. We have much left to experience and learn but, we've hit a good groove. I have to give credit where it's due, Ms. Elia is just a dream.

We really hit a home run with this one. (Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.)

We love you!

elia - ten months

Ten months have come (and nearly gone) since Elia was born and she continues to enchant us every day.  She is almost a toddler and her baby-ness is starting to fade.

In celebration of ten magical months, here are ten things about Elia lately:

1. Elia is a crawling machine.  She's fast and whips up and down the house following either of us wherever we go.
2. She loves standing a scooting around the furniture.  This has resulted in a few bumps to the head already.  We're battling against hardwood floors through the house - they might be winning.
3. She knows the sign for "more", and uses it often while eating.
4. Favorite foods include: Puffs, strawberries, Greek yogurt, anything from a packet, toast (especially off of mom's plate), black beans, and baby chili.
5. We are pretty sure she knows the chorus to "Old McDonald", whenever we sing it she chimes in with something like... "E-yi-eyi-uh" right before the chorus begins.
6. Old McDonald aside, she loves when we sing both "The Wheels On the Bus" (she does the motion for 'round and round' - too cute), and "La Araña Pequeñita" (The Itsy Bitsy Spider).
7. She weighed a whopping 20 pounds at her last doctor's appointment, just a few weeks ago.
8. I think she misses warmer days just like the rest of us - she's been so happy whenever we've been able to get outside on sunny days.
9. Bath time is the best time. Splash, splash, splash!
10. Her hair is starting to move past the pure fluff stage - in no time we'll be at her first haircut.

This post is very late so, if all goes according to plan, we'll have an eleven (11!) month post in about a week!

nine months

We are speeding through Elia's first year and she is now nine months old.

She continues to be a darling, happy girl.

She is still working on crawling forwards but it's darn cute to see her "crawl" in circles and backwards.

Buttons, snaps, any visible hardware like bolts, nail heads, anything like that), and stud earrings could keep her occupied for hours.  She finds them everywhere from my jacket to the top of our ottoman and pokes and picks at them until she's torn away for one reason or another.

Standing continues to be her favorite thing to do and once she gets crawling down, we think walking will be just around the corner.

She cut her third tooth today, a top tooth.  She'll be looking like such a grown up when its partner comes in.

Sweet girl, you have grown so much in the last nine months.  As always, we love you so.  Sweetie.

eight months

Our little lady is just over eight months old.

She loves:

Standing.
Anything she can shake, shake, shake.
Banging on anything.
Buttons and snaps.
Shiny things.
Pears.
Teething biscuits.
Other kids.
Saying "da da da da da da da da".

We love:

Her.

Hoping you all are enjoying a holiday season as full of joy as ours has been.